title: Frequent expression of the novel cancer testis antigen MAGE-C2/CT-10 in hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Cancer testis (CT) antigens are attractive targets for immunotherapy in cancer patients. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the expression of the CT antigens MAGE-C2/CT-10, MAGE-C1/CT-7, GAGE, MAGE-A4 and NY-ESO-1 in 146 hepatocellular carcinomas, 13 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, 37 extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas and 32 gallbladder carcinomas. Immunopositivity was correlated with clinicopathological parameters, MHC Class 1 expression, intratumoral CD4+, CD8+ and FOXP3+ T cells and CD163+ antigen-presenting cells. Of the 146 hepatocellular carcinomas, 34% were positive for MAGE-C2/CT-10, 12% for MAGE-C1/CT-7, 11% for GAGE and 2% for NY-ESO-1, respectively. MHC Class 1 coexpression was identified in almost all CT antigen-positive tumors. The number of intratumoral FOXP3+ regulatory T cells was increased in CT antigen-positive hepatocellular carcinomas (p<0.004), suggesting inhibition of immune response in such tumors. Furthermore, MAGE-C1/CT-7 and GAGE positivity was correlated with reduced overall survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (p=0.03 and 0.01, respectively). Four (13%) gallbladder carcinomas stained positive for MAGE-C2/CT-10, of which 1 tumor (3%) was also positive for NY-ESO-1 and GAGE. CT antigens were not expressed in intra- and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas. Our results suggest that MAGE-C2/CT-10 may be a good candidate for peptide vaccination in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marc-Oliver
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Riener
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Soll
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knuth
authors.forename: Boquan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jungbluth
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hellerbrand
authors.forename: Pierre-Alain
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Clavien
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moch
authors.forename: Wolfram
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jochum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D005260:Female; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000098902:CD163 Antigen
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D000098902:CD163 Antigen; C418974:FOXP3 protein, human; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C405429:MAGEC2 protein, human; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface